Karen Read Found Not Guilty of Second-Degree Murder, Guilty of Drunken Driving

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On Wednesday, it was decided by the jury that Karen Read was free from charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter regarding the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend. This case, which garnered a large following among true crime enthusiasts, caused a wave of excitement outside the court as news of the acquittal spread.

The same jury ultimately decided to convict her of a reduced charge related to driving under the influence, following over 22 hours of deliberations which began on June 13.

Or, more concisely:

The jury found her guilty of reduced DUI charges after over 22 hours of deliberation starting June 13.

From my vantage point outside the courtroom, I could hear the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd as the verdict was announced. Accompanied by my jubilant supporters, I exited the courthouse hand-in-hand with my legal team and loved ones.

In a significant turn of events, Read’s legal team secured a triumph as they had consistently contended that she was falsely accused by the police after dropping off John O’Keefe at a party hosted by another officer. The prosecution claimed that Read, aged 45, ran over O’Keefe, 46, with her SUV and then left the scene, but the defense insisted that he met his end within the house and was later moved outside.

“No one has fought harder for justice for John O’Keefe than I have,” Read said.

Members of O’Keefe’s family left the courtroom with bowed heads.

The judgment was handed down approximately a year following a previous jury’s failure to reach a consensus regarding Read’s role in the January 2022 demise of John O’Keefe, leading to a mistrial.

Facing allegations of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and hit-and-run incidents near Boston. If found guilty of second-degree murder, she could have received a life sentence. For the conviction of driving under the influence, she will serve a year on probation.

Bill Read, Read’s father, expressed feelings of relief and gratitude towards God outside the courthouse as he spoke to reporters, following the announcement of the verdict.

“We need to get our life back together, and we will,” he said.

He explained that he believed the result of the second trial was distinct due to “an additional year’s worth of information being accessible to the public, making them more informed about the events.

Some witnesses see miscarriage of justice

Multiple individuals associated with the case expressed their sympathies towards John O’Keefe and his entire family in a statement made on Wednesday. Among those who signed this statement were Jennifer McCabe, who was present with Read and O’Keefe on the night of his demise, as well as Brian Albert, the owner of the residence where the party occurred.

Though there may be further comments to come, today we share our grief with John’s family as we acknowledge that this trial has been tainted by falsehoods and unfounded theories spread by Karen Read, her legal team, and certain media outlets. Regrettably, this unfortunate situation has led to a grave injustice.

Jubilation among Read’s supporters

Beyond the courthouse, enthusiastic advocates erupted in a scene reminiscent of sports enthusiasts celebrating a team’s victory, scattering pink confetti alike.

TD Floras from Nashua, New Hampshire, positioned herself near the courthouse’s barricade, with Lucy, her chorkie mix (a combination of Chihuahua and Yorkie), by her side. Lucy donned a collar displaying the message “Free Karen.” Exuberant about the result, Floras expressed her feelings as being “overjoyed and eager.

She offered, “I’d be willing to help with that parole supervision myself.” It’s high time for it, so let’s close this chapter now and grant her some tranquility in her life.

The trial

Just as during the initial trial, lawyers invested several months building their arguments, introducing numerous exhibits and calling upon multiple witnesses.

Or,

As in the first trial, lawyers took several months to construct their cases, presenting hundreds of pieces of evidence and testifying through dozens of witnesses.

Both sentences convey the same meaning but use slightly different phrasing for variety and readability.

Read’s legal team claimed that O’Keefe was brutally assaulted, bitten by a dog, and abandoned outside a house in the suburban town of Canton, near Boston, as part of a plot engineered by the police involving the planting of false evidence.

Prosecutors portrayed Read as an angry ex-lover, who deliberately left O’Keefe injured in the snow after hitting him with her SUV.

Shira Diner, a professor at Boston University Law School, stated that the decision provides us with a chance to consider how this case might have unfolded differently if Karen Read wasn’t a wealthy, privileged white woman.

The legal system for criminal cases is riddled with disparities, and it significantly impacted the case at hand that the defendant had the means to post bail and was not detained during the proceedings,” Diner stated. “This enabled her to collaborate closely with her lawyers, something that’s challenging from behind bars. She also had the opportunity to give interviews and shape her public story, a luxury that many individuals charged with second-degree murder lack due to financial constraints. All these advantages played a crucial role in the verdict, an advantage not often granted to those in similar situations.

Daniel Medwed, a professor of law at Northeastern University, described the decision as a compassionate or balanced verdict – one where the jury chooses not guilty for the gravest accusations, but finds guilt on lesser charges when they harbor uncertainties about the case, yet still wish to impose accountability.

Medwed stated that the evidence, which included the defendant’s own statements, clearly indicated she was driving under the influence of alcohol. As a result, it was logical for the jury to conclude this offense as OUI.

Blogger and Read champion “overcome with emotion”

A blogger who’s long supported Read’s innocence and now faces charges for alleged witness tampering, expressed his strong emotions to AP following the verdict.

After two and a half years, it’s all done. Karen Read is now free,” Aidan Kearney stated. “All my efforts were worthwhile, and we’ve finally achieved justice. We can finally leave this terrible ordeal in the past.

In the trial, it was Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan who presented less number of witnesses compared to Prosecutor Adam Lally, who presided over the initial case against Read.

As a fellow gamer, let me tell you, O’Keefe was more than just a good guy – he was a friend in need. In the heat of the trial, I shared with the jurors during my closing statements that on that fateful night, O’Keefe wasn’t just asking for help; he desperately needed it. The one and only person who could lend a hand was none other than Read.

“She was drunk. She hit him and she left him to die,” he said.

The defense argued vehemently against the notion that a collision had occurred, instead presenting their own set of experts who concurred with this viewpoint.

Attorney Alan Jackson stated during the final arguments, ‘We’ve found absolutely no proof that John was struck by a vehicle. Not a shred of it. Consequently, this trial can be concluded immediately, as there was no accident involved.’

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2025-06-19 00:25